Gun for propelling a drug or medicine projectile

ABSTRACT

A gun assembly for firing projectiles or darts includes a projectile barrel connected to a modified conventional small bored rifle. A gas transfer block connects the barrel wth the rifle to convey exploded expanding gas as a source of propulsion. A restrictive orifice is valved in the transfer block and pressure relieving ports are provided to vent exploding gas and thereby control the velocity of the projectile. A bolt actuator mechanism on the projectile barrel provides an over center locking rod and O-ring sealed bolt for sealingly inserting a projectile into the barrel.

llnited States Patent Waldeisen 1 July 17, 1.973

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 805,533 12/1958 Great Britain 4.2/16

Attorney- Richard C. Sughrue, Donald E. Zinn et al.

A gun assembly for firing projectiles or darts includes a projectile barrel connected to a modified conventional small bored rifle. A gas transfer block connects the barrel wth the rifle to convey exploded expanding gas as a source of propulsion. A restrictive orifice is valved in the transfer block and pressure relieving ports are provided to vent exploding gas and thereby control the velocity of the projectile. A bolt actuator mechanism on the projectile barrel provides an over center locking rod and O-ring sealed bolt for sealingly insert- 5 Claims, 4 Drawing; Figures [75] Inventor: Robert B. Waldeisen, Hillsgrove, Pa.

, Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt [73] Assignee: Pneu-Dart, Inc., wilhamsport, Pa. Assistant Examiner c. T. Jordan [22] Filed: Sept. 28, 19711 [21] Appl. No.2 184,402

[ ABSTRACT [52] U.S.'Cl 42/1 R [51] Int. Cl. F4lc 7/00 [58] Field of Search 42/1 R, 16; 89/7, 89/26; 102/92, 92.7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,346,981 10/1967 Tabor 42/1 R 3,381,403 5/1968 Murdoch 42/1 R 3,204,400 9/1965 Kvavle 42/1 R 1,293,776 2 1919 Hillman 89/26 mg a prolectllfi the barrel- 3,166,864 1/1965 Scanlon, Jr 42/16 2,348,337 5/1944 Francis 102/92 i? A S J PAIENIEDJUL 1 H873 3 745,682

SHEET 1 0F 2 FIGI f INVENTOR a '1 7' ROBERT B. WALDEISEN A TTORN E Y3 PATENTEB JUL 1 1 I975 SHEET 2 or 2 R O m V m ROBERT B. WALDEISEN ATTORNEYb" GUN FOR PROPELLING A DRUG OR MEDICINE PROJECTILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a gun for projecting a device to administer drugs, medicine and the like, to objects situated at a distance from the operator of the gun. More particularly, the present invention is directed to providing an easily assembled gun with means for controlling the velocity of the projectile.

2. Description of the Prior Art Guns for propelling projectiles to administer drugs, medicines and the like to, for example, an animal, have been utilized in the prior art. These guns are necessary to permit a person desiring to administer a drug or medicine, to do so without approaching an animal. Projectiles which establish identification of animals can similarly be utilized without harming the animal. Generally, the gun uses an explosive ballistic cartridge blank to provide propulsion power from the expanding gases generated by the cartridge blank.'Control of the explosive gases is utilized to vary both the range of the projectile and its velocity and in this regard, the Murdoch U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,403, granted May 7, 1968, is illustrative of this form of gun.

The primary problem associated with the use of a gun of this type has been to provide safety both to the operator and to the animal that is either to be administered a drug or medicine, or marked with identification. Accordingly, precise control in an economical fashion both of velocity and range has been the primary goal. However, elaborate structures and expensive apparatus have been required to meet this goal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a powder-fired gun which is capable of utilizing a modified small caliber rifle, with a minimum of parts to convert it into an effective projectile gun, have the capabilities of varying both the velocity and range of a projectile or dart. A projectile barrel with an appropriate projectile loader is mounted upon a small caliber rifle, for example, a .22 caliber rifle, and is designed to receive, through a restrictive needle valve, the gases produced by the firing of an explosive ballistic cartridge blank. A gas transfer block connects the projectile barrel with the explosive cartridge blank chamber. Located on the gas transfer block is an adjustable disc carrying a number of different size orifices for venting the explosive gas pressure to vary the velocity and range of the projectile. The lower portion of the gas transfer block carries an adjustable needle valve whose stem can be adjusted to regulate the size of an orifice in the path of the expanding gas. A bolt actuator mechanism utilizes an over center locking rod and a bolt member with three O-ring seals to position a dart or projectile in the barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a gun of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view, showing in particular, the coaction of the conventional gun with the projectile barrel through the gas transfer block;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the dart bolt actuator open for loading, and

FIG. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of the dart bolt actuator in a closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. l, a small caliber bolt action rifle 2 is disclosed, modified to carry a projectile barrel 4. The workings and mechanisms of the conventional rifle are known in the prior art and will not be disclosed herein. The barrel of the conventional rifle 2 has been cut and a valve cylinder 6 has been inserted into the original barrel.

Connecting the gas explosive chamber 8 or breech means of the conventional rifle 2 to the projectile barrel 4, is a gas transfer block lit). The gas transfer block 10 is secured by bolts 12 to the housing 14 of the conventional rifle 2. A stem valve 16 carrying the stem 18 is positioned within a valve cylinder 6 and can be adjusted within the orifice 20 located in the gas chamber conduit 22. The gas transfer block 10 carries a gas conduit 24 from the stem valve 16 to the projectile barrel 4.

Located above the projectile barrel 4 on the gas transfer block 10 is an adjustable disc 26, carrying a number of ports 28 of different size. The adjustable disc 26 is rotatably fastened to the projectile barrel 4 by a bolt 25. Beneath the radial positioning of the ports 28, is a gas conduit 30 extending from the projectile barrel 4. The explosive gas generated in the conventional rifle 2 can be ultimately vented through one of the ports 28 to adjust the velocity and range of a projectile or dart, not shown. A ball 32 and spring 34 can act as detents for the rotatable disc 26 due to appropriate notches spaced on the underside of the disc 26.

The dart loading receiver 36 has a dart bolt 38 which consists of a steel bolt with three O-rings 40 to seal the receiver 36 and prevent rearward escaping of explosive gas. The dart bolt 38 includes a positioning stud 39 to properly position the projectile downstream of the expanding gases. A dart bolt actuator rod 42 applies pressure to the dart bolt 38 and acts as an off center lock when in the closed position. Handle 52 is connected to the arm 44 for manual operation. The dart bolt actuator arm 44 is manually operated to push a dart or projectile, not shown, into the rifle bore of the projectile barrel 4 and carries a projecting arm 45 for supporting a pivoting ofl center connection to the rod 42. A socket head tap screw 46 connects the arm 44 to the dart loading receiver 36.

Socket head tap screw 50 fastens the rearward end of the projectile barrel 4 to the conventional rifle 2,

through a metal spacer 48.

A conventional rifle 2, for example a .22 caliber rifle, can have its barrel sawed off and the valve cylinder 6 placed onto the conventional rifle 2. The gas transfer block 10 connects the valve cylinder 6 with its stem valve 16, to a projectile barrel 4. Appropriate means can be utilized to secure the projectile barrel 4 to the conventional rifle 2. At the top of the gas transfer block 10 is means for adjusting the pressure generated by an explosive ballistic cartridge blank, not shown. This pressure adjusting can be accomplished by the disc 26 having variable diameter ports 28 which can be positioned on top of a gas conduit 30 for porting the explosive gas. In addition, an orifice 20, controlled by the stem valve l6,in the gas chamber conduit 22 permits a regulation of the gas pressure.

In operation, an operator will insert an appropriate dart, such as a hypodermic projectile, into the chamber of the dart loading receiver 36. The operator will then move the dart bolt actuator arm 44, by the handle 52, which in turn, transmits its force through the dart bolt actuator rod 42 to the dart bolt 38 to place the projectile into firing position in the projectile barrel 4. The gun is then aimed and the trigger activated to explode a cartridge blank, thereby producing a source of gas pressure. The gas passes along the gas chamber conduit 22 through the restrictive orifice 20, governed by the stem valve 16, into the projectile barrel 4, through the gas conduit 24 of the gas transfer block 10. By appropriate pre-adjustment of the disc 26, the operator will have set his desired velocity and range of the projectile.

While the above description discloses the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be clear that modifications can be made by one skilled in the art, and accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be measured solely from the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a small caliber rifle including a small bore rifle barrel extending from breech means supporting a rifle cartridge for generating an expanding gas to fill said rifle barrel;

a projectile barrel overlying said rifle barrel and extending parallel thereto along at least a portion of 25 its length;

right angle conduit means intersecting respectively the bores of both barrels;

projectile bolt means normally positioned to the rear of said conduit means and defining the position of said projectile prior to firing; a needle valve axially positioned within said rifle barre] at said conduit means for controlling the flow rate of gas from said rifle barrel to said projectile barrel;

a vent opening within said projectile barrel forwardly of said bolt; and

a disc rotatably mounted on said projectile barrel and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports of different areas for selective movement into overlying position with said vent opening for variedly venting a portion of the expanding gas within said projectile barrel.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, further including'means for inserting the projectile into a firing position in the projectile barrel including said bolt member, an actuator rod and an actuator arm, said actuator rod being pivotably connected to both the bolt member and arm so that it is positioned in a locking over center position when in a closed position for firing of the projectile.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, further including three O-rings on said bolt member for sealing the projectile barrel to prevent rearward leakage of the expanding gas.

4. The combination as in claim 2, where the bolt member includes a positioning stud to insure the projectile as clear of the conduit means for firing.

5. The combination as in claim 2, where the actuator arm includes a traversely attached arm for pivotably connecting the actuator rod for an over centered closed position. 

1. In combination with a small caliber rifle including a small bore rifle barrel extending from breech means supporting a rifle cartridge for generating an expanding gas to fill said rifle barrel; a projectile barrel overlying said rifle barrel and extending parallel thereto along at least a portion of its length; right angle conduit means intersecting respectively the bores of both barrels; projectile bolt means normally positioned to the rear of said conduit means and defining the position of said projectile prior to firing; a needle valve axially positioned within said rifle barrel at said conduit means for controlling the flow rate of gas from said rifle barrel to said projectile barrel; a vent opening within said projectile barrel forwardly of said bolt; and a disc rotatably mounted on said projectile barrel and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports of different areas for selective movement into overlying position with said vent opening for variedly venting a portion of the expanding gas within said projectile barrel.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, further including means for inserting the projectile into a firing position in the projectile barrel including said bolt member, an actuator rod and an actuator arm, said actuator rod being pivotably connected to both the bolt member and arm so that it is positioned in a locking over center position when in a closed position for firing of the projectile.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, further including three O-rings on said bolt member for sealing the projectile barrel to prevent rearward leakage of the expanding gas.
 4. The combination as in claim 2, where the bolt member includes a positioning stud to insure the projectile as clear of the conduit means for firing.
 5. The combination as in claim 2, where the actuator arm includes a traversely attached arm for pivotably connecting the actuator rod for an over centered closed position. 